The Irish planning authority, An Bord Pleanála has controversially deferred its decision on one of the last stages of the huge Corrib gas project.

A final decision on the third pipeline route, submitted by Shell under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, was anticapated but has now been delayed after the application - which will involve tunnelling under Sruwaddaccon estuary, a special area of conservation - was the subject of an oral hearing and later led to a community group, Pobal Chill Chomáin, contacting the board asking it to reopen the oral hearing, due to an alleged 'disparity' in new information submitted by Shell.

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The information was submitted to the Department of the Environment as part of a foreshore licence for the new route.

According to the Irish Times, the community group has not heard back from the board, and while sources close to the board said it was 'unlikely' the hearing would be reopened at this stage and Shell EP Ireland has not heard from An Bord Pleanála, no firm decision has been forthcoming either way.

(BMcC/GK)